A pile of tires that caught fire behind a Riverside warehouse damaged the back of the building, but firefighters prevented the flames from reaching the interior.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 4:20 a.m. Thursday in the 900 block of Columbia Avenue, near Northgate Street, according to the Riverside Fire Department.
Battalion Chief Mike Allen said that three engine crews and a truck company, numbering some 17 personnel, were sent to the location and encountered multiple tires ablaze.
“An aggressive attack was initiated, and the fire was contained to the building’s exterior,” Allen said. “The interior and roof were examined, and there were no hazards identified.”
The estimated damage to the $5 million warehouse was $10,000, according to Allen.
It was unclear whether the fire was intentionally set. An investigation was underway.